Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 118 - What Remains of Hazel Taylor

After a while, Voldemort's voice returns, echoing triumphantly as he boasts.

"Harry Potter is dead!"

The words repeat themselves in my mind. He continues on, saying more, but I don't hear any of it. Harry Potter is dead. But why does it feel like a lie? I should be devastated. I should be furious. But instead, I am just confused. Harry isn't dead.

And then all of my thoughts leave me as the person in my arms stirrs.

"Professor?" I sob, pushing his hair away from his face.

"Uh." He groans softly, in obvious pain. "Taylor?"

"Yes, I'm here." I cry, laughing at the same time. "You're here too. You're still alive."

"I feel like I should be dead." He croaks, slowly opening his eyes.

"To be honest, you look it too." I joke, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"What happened? Did Potter do it?" He asks, eyes wide with panic.

"I- I'm not sure."  I stutter.  I don't want to tell him what Voldemort just said.  Especially because I have a feeling it isn't true.

"Hazel, don't lie to me."  Snape tries to sit up, but falls back to the floor immediately.

"You-know-who thinks he's won.  But I don't think it's okay yet."  I tell him, putting his head in my lap. 

"What do you mean by that?  Is Potter dead?"

"That's what he announced, but that doesn't feel right."  I frown, gently stroking his hair.

"I hope that this feeling comes from your divination abilities."  He sighs, closing his eyes again.

"Me too, Sir.  Me too."  

He drifts in and out of sleep as we wait.  Minutes tick by like hours, and I try to keep a level head.  The sun fully rose, sending bright golden light into the decaying house.  And after a while, I hear footsteps.  I gently ease Snape off of my lap and stand, gripping my wand tightly in my hand.  I prepare to battle as the door bursts open.  

"It's Kingsley Shacklebolt!"  The intruder announces loudly as he breaks in.  I step back, but keep my wand raised, just in case.

"Hazel?"  He address me with confusion.

"He's still alive."  I say, nodding down to the slumbering man at my feet.

"Severus is still alive?  Potter said..."

"I healed him.  But he's still in rough shape."  I interrupt, slowly dropping my arm to my side.  "Did Harry win?  He isn't really dead right?"

"Yes, Miss Taylor.  Voldemort is gone.  The war is over."  He tells me, his voice gentle.

My wand clatters to the ground as I fall to my knees, sobbing.

"It's over, Professor.  Potter did it.  He really did it."  I cry, burying my face in his chest.

"Unfortunately you will need to be brought in for questioning."  Kingsley admits awkwardly.

"Oh, yes.  Of course."  I sniff, wiping my nose on my sleeve.  "I'll go with you."

"Very well."  Kingsley uses magic to bring Snape with us and we return to the castle.  Once there, Snape is immediately sent to St Mungos with the rest of the injured, with an Auror to keep an eye on him.  As I am being herded to be arrested, I pass among the hall of the dead.  I see some familiar faces, and some unknowns.  But my steps falter as I come across two peaceful faces, looking as if they were merely sleeping.